A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you. (Ezekiel 36: 26)

Underneath the snow outside my window, the soil is frozen and hard. Daffodil bulbs planted in autumn lie deep below the surface near the dormant rhizomes of what one day will be irises in glowing colors. But they remain only potential blooms as long as the ground is cold and hard.

How often our hearts are like the hard ground! The potential for great love, beauty, and wisdom is within us, but it fails to flower as long as our hearts remain hardened. We cut ourselves off from the sunshine of God’s power and never realize all that we could be in our communities, our relationships, and even in our personal lives–if only our hearts would thaw.

No matter what time of year it is, we can turn toward the light and warmth of God’s springtime in our lives. No matter what our age or how long our gifts have lain dormant within our hardened hearts, with the Creator’s help we can begin the struggle to break through the thawing ground and blossom as we were intended.

Holy God, soften our hearts with the warmth of Your love. May we feel Your presence with us as we begin the difficult process of growth!

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. (Psalm 23: 4)

A woman from Illinois writes the following:

I had been alone for several years and had come to depend on my brother. Whenever I had a problem, he was there to help me out. Not only did I love my brother, but he was the source of security for me. Then, after a routine doctor’s visit, my brother announced that he was terminally ill. I was shattered.

As the months went by, I marveled at how well my brother coped with his situation. I knew he was in pain, but he never complained. Instead of being depressed, he prayed. He was secure in his faith and in his walk with Christ. He looked at death as the beginning of a new life with Christ and another exciting journey in his Christian walk.

Watching God prepare my brother for his new life inspired and comforted me. God used my brother and his illness to strengthen me, to draw me close, and to enrich my relationship with Jesus Christ.

Most Holy Creator, thank You for the strength to endure our daily trials and thank You for the loved ones around us that teach us of You!

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

A small crippled boy was hurrying to catch a commuter train. Carrying some packages under his arm, he was experiencing some difficulty maneuvering his crutches at the same time. As the busy people rushed by him, someone accidentally bumped him causing the brightly colored packages to scatter in all directions. The man who had caused the accident stopped only long enough to scold the youth for being so clumsy and getting in his way.

Another gentleman, seeing the boy’s distress, went to his aid. He quickly gathered the packages and then slipped a dollar bill into the boy’s pocket. “I’m sorry, son,” he said. “I hope this makes up for all your trouble.” Then he turned and continued on his way.

With tears in his eyes and a broad smile, the boy called after him. “Sir,” he shouted. “Sir, please, sir - are you Jesus?”

The man stopped and turned. “No,” he said smiling, “but I’m one of His followers.”

We need to humble ourselves at times and remind ourselves that there are “Jesus people” all around us, those who encourage and uplift us. And we need to remember that Jesus left us an example of how we need to reach out to others.

God of Love, thank You for the “Jesus people” who cross my path each day, especially those who accept me just as You made me. Oh, and God, may I learn to be a “Jesus person” too!

Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:26)

One of the greatest blessings in life is finding a mate or companion with whom we can have intimate rapport. Finding someone who we can trust totally with all our baggage and secrets and who will not judge or condemn us for past failures or current troubles. Someone who knows and understands our faults and loves us anyway. Someone who supports and encourages us to reach a potential within self that others do not see.

When Jesus began to converse with the woman at the well in Samaria, there was an immediate rapport between them. Then suddenly she was jolted by the fact that this stranger knew all about her lurid past. As many of us often do when we are confronted with uncomfortable conversation, she attempted to change the subject. Jesus used the new conversation to make a pronouncement—the fact that He was the Messiah. As the Messiah, Jesus not only loved this woman, but saw in her the potential to evangelize her community, a community that looked upon her as an outcast.

Earthly companions and friendships are very precious things, but none can compare with the intimacy of the Messiah. Just like the woman at the well, our “lurid” pasts are well known to Christ. And Jesus also knows our potential to evangelize our community, neighborhood or immediate family. All we need to do is say to Jesus, “Give me this water that I might not thirst!” just as the woman at the well did.

God of all wisdom, You know our potential, our past and our future. Show us our abilities that we might serve You well.

But let your answer be “yes, yes” or “no, no”… (Matthew 5:37)

Although taken captive as children, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were so wise that as adults, they were put over the affairs of the Babylon province. Then King Nebuchadnezzar, whom they served, built a gold image of some 100 feet high and placed it in their province. He invited the empire’s leaders to the dedication of the image and gave a command that when a tribute of music sounded, all should fall down and worship the golden image. Whoever failed to do so was to be thrown into a giant furnace.

The music played and all fell face down before the image…all, that is, except Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They were Jews, and had been taught from earliest memory never to worship a graven image. Word of their refusal quickly reached the king, and in a rage, the king summoned them. The three men did not hesitate in saying to the king, “We will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image.”

Furious, the king ordered the three to be cast in the giant furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, only to find that the fire had no effect on them. They emerged unscorched! The “no” of these faithful men resulted in the king decreeing that no person in the land would speak anything against the God they worshiped. And Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—whom the king had named Shadrach, Mesach and Abed-Nego—were promoted in their province.

If the answer you intend to give in a certain situation is “no,” make it mean something. In today’s world, many people accept it as an acronym for “Negotiations Open” and it is not that. When you stand by your word, God will stand behind you to back what you say.

Holy Creator of Truth, grant us the courage to mean what we say and to say what we mean. May our “no” be taken for what it is intended!

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her, for she is your life. (Proverbs 4: 13)

A young ensign had nearly completed his first overseas tour of sea duty when he was given the opportunity to display his ability at getting the ship under way. With a stream of crisp commands, he had the decks buzzing with men and soon, the ship had left port and was steaming out of the channel.

The ensign’s efficiency had been remarkable. In fact, the deck as abuzz with talk that he had set a new record for getting the mammoth destroyer under way. The ensign glowed at his accomplishment and was not all that surprised when another seaman approached him with a message from the captain. He was, however, a bit surprised to find that it was a radio message, and he was even more surprised when read, “My personal congratulations upon completing your underway preparation exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. In your haste, however, you have overlooked one of the unwritten rules—make sure the captain is on board before getting under way.”

God’s Manual for Life, the Bible, is our ‘set of instructions” for getting our lives under way. But we must never become so bound to the book that we forget the Author of it and relationship God desires to have with us on our voyage through life.

God of Love, please be “on board” with us as we set forth on the sea of life each day!

Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. (Matthew 7: 17)

A generation ago, many people had parents or grandparents who were Christians. Though they didn’t always live as they should, they were clearly committed to the principles of Scripture and identified with Jesus Christ. Families stuck together, and couples didn’t divorce simply because they couldn’t seem to get along. They went to church, paid taxes, and supported each other in the family and the community. Many people today grow up in homes where there is no mention of God apart from profanity, no religious training, and no sense of moral right or wrong.

Though church attendance is still significant, godliness and righteousness seem to run very shallow. We speak of freedom as though it meant “freedom from,” as in freedom from duty, responsibility, parenthood or accepting the consequences of our own behavior.

Are we so far gone as a culture that there is no hope of returning to the values of the past? Absolutely not! But the consequences of our failures can’t be canceled by government spending or by fainthearted messages about how to “feel good” about yourself at the expense of society or others in general.

God’s solution remains unchanged: “If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7: 14)

Holy Creator, may we be willing to follow Your tried and true method of receiving Your mercy and being uplifting to those around us!